China Aid Association Updated on Sept. 25(Washington—Sept. 19, 2014) Several U.S. Congressmen joined China Aid at a press conference at the Parliamentary Triangle in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to discuss the status of the of the “Free the China 18” campaign. The press conference was followed by a meeting with high-ranking officials from the U.S. Department of State, in which officials met with family members of the China 18.The campaign, which launched in June 2013, and is jointly sponsored by more than 30 international human rights organizations, aims at obtaining the release, with acquittal, of 18 prisoners of conscience from arbitrary detention by the Chinese government.Congressmen Frank Wolf, R-Pa., Chris Smith, R-N.J., Robert Pittenger, R-N.C., and Steve Stockman, R-Texas, delivered a short speech during the press conference, expressing their concern. They urged President Obama and the international community to take action...

Posted on Aug 18, 2012 in Chen Guangcheng, News | Comments Off on Scholars with Spine: Notes from the field of China studies

National Review / Digital August 27, 2012 Scholars with Spine Notes from the field of China studies BY JAY NORDLINGER JEROME A. COHEN may not be known to the public, but he is well known to Chinese democrats and their supporters. A law professor at New York University, and a veteran China scholar, he is the sponsor and, in a way, protector of Chen Guangcheng. Chen is the Chinese legal activist — “the blind peasant lawyer,” as he has been called — who made a run for the U.S. embassy in Beijing earlier this year. This was after six years of imprisonment, house arrest, and physical assaults. Cohen played a key role in the negotiations that led to Chen’s departure from the country. Chen is now at NYU, under Cohen’s supervision. Not many are the China scholars in the West who are willing...

In reaction to the outcome of the Chen Guangcheng case Initiatives for China issued the following statement: As the story continues to develop, we express our serious concerns over the outcome of the negotiations over Chen Guagncheng between the governments of the United States and China. While appreciating the efforts of Secretary Clinton and her top diplomatic officials, we are alarmed that Mr. Chen has been threatened to accept the solution to leave the U.S. Embassy. We urge that the American government takes a firm stand for Cheng Guangcheng and human rights in China, respecting his desire and his wish. We are extremely worried and remain doubtful that China will not keep its promise to ensure Mr. Chen’s freedom, his family’s safety, no retribution for those who assisted his escape, and the punishment of his abusers. For the hospital...

Washington Post | Opinion | Original Link By Yang Jianli, Saturday, April 28, 1:59 PM Yang Jianli is founder and president of Initiatives for China. He served a five-year prison term in China, from 2002 to 2007, for attempting to observe labor unrest. I have a suggestion for Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao: Invite Chen Guangcheng to voice his concerns about your government and its treatment of him. The blind Chinese civil rights attorney turned activist endured a year and a half of “soft detention” – constant surveillance under floodlights; a variety of threats; beatings, among them attacks on his wife – before escaping from his house in Dongshigu last weekend. Chen’s escape was heroically assisted by our fellow activists He “Pearl” Peirong and Guo Yushan. Chen feigned inactivity by lying in bed for long periods. After evading the local goon squad surrounding his home, Chen was able to find He and Guo at a nearby meeting place and was driven to a...

On April 22, Chen Guangcheng, a blind human rights lawyer, under house arrest since 2010, and after serving over 4 years in prison for exposing China’s massive campaign of forced abortions and sterilization, was rescued from the village of Donshigu in Shandong Providnce by a group of human rights activists, including Ms. He Zhenzhu and Mr. Guo Yushan. Chen Guangcheng is now hiding somewhere safe in Beijing. According to sources from inside China, Chen Guancheng and his supporters want President Obama to raise the issue of Chen Guangcheng during the upcoming the U.S./ China Strategic Economic Summit. Mr. Chen Guangcheng escape from house arrest has embarrassed and infuriated local authorities. On the night after Mr. Chen’s escape, the authorities hired local thugs to heavily beat family members. Chen Guangcheng’s brother was also arrested. According to various sources from Shandong,...

Initiatives for China, International Campaign for Tibet, the Uyghur American Association, Southern Mongolian Human Rights Center, and International Uyghur Human Rights and Democracy Foundation announce the launch of their UN Action Project, a strategic initiative focused against China’s membership on the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these organizations will conduct activities designed to (1) increase awareness of China’s complete lack of accountability with regards to the human rights of its citizens, and (2) to defeat China’s bid in 2013 for another three-year term on the Council. The UN Human Rights Council is regarded as the pre-eminent body for the protection and advancement of human rights worldwide. Conversely, China is recognized by all as a country that routinely denies its citizens their basic rights to freedom of speech, assembly, religion, and property; viciously persecutes religious and ethnic minorities; and ‘re-educates’...

Holiday Season has arrived and Initiatives for China wishes every one a happy and safe holiday. In the mean while, the blind Chinese lawyer, Chen Guangcheng and his family, are still under house arrest. From recent report of the Batman Actor, Christian Bale’s attempt to visit to Chen Guangcheng, we can tell that Guangcheng’s village is still heavily guarded by local Chinese authorities. We would like to ask all of you: Please write Chen a holiday card/letter. His address is: Chen Guangcheng Dongshigu Cun (Village), Shuanghou Zhen, Yinan Xian (County) 276312 Shandong, P. R. China P. R. China 邮编 276312 山东省沂南县双堠镇东师古村 陈光诚 收 Please scan the card and email it to us (dcoffice@initiativesforchina.org). We are collecting the photos. Please ask your friends and relatives also write Mr. Chen a holiday card. These holiday cards could be for Christmas,...